Two employees of WBTV, a CNN affiliate, died Tuesday in a helicopter crash in Charlotte, North Carolina, the station confirmed..
Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag were diagnosed as the employees inside the crash, the station said.
“The WBTV’s own family is grieving a terrible loss. Our news helicopter Sky3 crashed mid-day Tuesday with of our colleagues on board,” WBTV said in an assertion. “we’re operating to comfort their households on this difficult time. We recognize the outpouring of aid for our staff and your persevered prayers for their families.”
More than one neighborhood and the national group took to Twitter in support of the station Tuesday consisting of the Carolina Panthers and the countrywide climate service.
Charlotte police had been to start with notified approximately the crash off Interstate 77 at the facet of the street around 12 p.M. Once officials arrived, they showed two humans died on the scene, in step with Charlotte Mecklenburg Police chief Johnny Jennings.
No different vehicles have been worried, Jennings said. The leader said he heard the helicopter’s pilot may additionally have diverted the plane to keep away from hitting site visitors.
“If that is certainly the case then that pilot is a hero in my eyes to make certain that the protection and security of these that were driving on the road had been now not in jeopardy, ” he stated.
Jennings advised journalists traffic is expected to stay closed near the scene of the crash and he does now not expect it commencing up any time soon.
“I count on it going thru a rush hour and in all likelihood thru the night,” the leader said.
Police have secured the scene of the crash as they wait for the advent of the National Transportation Protection Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration to research the crash, Jennings said.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper tweeted an assertion, which stated: “that is a tragedy for the WBTV family and we’re praying for them and all of those in the media who work so tough to keep the public knowledgeable.”
WBTV released data on each of the sufferers Tuesday. Myers, the meteorologist, watched WBTV as an infant developing up in Union and Catawba counties. He labored in Raleigh, Texas, and Virginia before returning to Charlotte in 2019, according to the station and his LinkedIn page. Myers leaves at the back his spouse, Jillian, and 4 children.
Tayag, the pilot, “got here to WBTV in 2017 as an ENG pilot operating Sky3,” the station stated. He had more than 20 years of enjoyment as a pilot.
